I'm in South Beach but it is not the famous art deco Miami one. This South Beach is a laid back…read morebeach park in Ft. Pierce. South Beach Park has a lot of free parking, a deck, picnic tables and pavilions with grill, and restrooms with showers. There weren't many people present and the beach has a very relaxed and secluded vibe. More people visit Jetty Beach Park north of here. South Beach is also known by locals for having the occasional bomb warhead off the beach. During WWII this area was used for military training by the Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base that extended from Vero Beach to Jensen Beach. The military subsequently removed as many of the explosives as they could but even in 2022 military bombs used to train for the Normandy Beach invasion were still being discovered by people with metal detectors. Fortunately today you are more likely to discover a sea turtle nest on the beach rather than a bomb.

Great day swimming and jumping off the pier on the inlet! :)…read moreLots of people watching to do. Food, drink, smiles then a potential drowning rounded out the day! :/ Don't worry, the person we did not know was pulled out and walked away on his own. Making sure of your swimming capabilities is a must when walking out past the sandbar. No waves makes having small children an easygoing win. :)) You can trust me, this is the 5th boy I will raise up with help from my friends. ;D

Pretty area but a bit muddy with high puddles when we went and look out towers were closed. We…read morewill have to check it out again after good weather.

Fantastic place to walk the trails. You get to see different environments & topography. If you are…read morelucky, you see lots of birds & tortoises & and an armadillo or two. The nature center is great as well. They have a nice exhibit and resident ambassador animals. Tip: they recycle plastic bags and styrofoam here so I always save and bring to drop off. Thank you Oxbow!!!!!

I love finding hidden little spots. This was an unexpected surprise for me. It was unexpected…read morebecause I was not expecting to find this little piece of history in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Snuggle right between the houses. It made my day. The fort is surrounded by big trees. You know the kind of trees that have been aloud to grow all over. The branches are huge. They are beautiful. It was a nice to visit. I had a great time taking pictures. It's a historical site. The area has signs all around telling the history. I found it interesting to be there. There is plenty of parking around and a cool place to visit.

Almost drove by this small park that is located across the street from the Indian River Lagoon…read more This is the site of the Old Fort Pierce but has a lot of historical significance other than having been the site of F Peirce. It is located on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is also a burial ground for the Ais - a tribe of Indians who lived here about 1,000 years ago. This is a very peaceful, restful site that allows you to relax while watching the sites and the river.

This is a well maintained park in Fort Pierce. The park is named for Weldon B. Lewis who was a…read morecounty administrator who served the citizens of Fort Pierce for 21 years (1968-1989) He was born in 1925 in West Palm Beach and served in WWII where he received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Amenities at this 13 acre park include a baseball/softball field, soccer field, playground, restrooms, picnic tables and pavilions. At the back of the park is the 38 acre Ancient Oaks Preserve with a one mile natural ground loop trail. This is a great park to come to if you are looking for a place for the kids to play, get exercise, or birdwatch.

Gazebo Park is a small swath of green with a gazebo on it in historic downtown Ft. Pierce. It is in…read morethe same area that they hold the farmers market every Saturday morning. It is a popular location for weddings and it has electricity so you can plug in lights. The landscaping around the gazebo is very attractive with flowering crepe myrtle all around it. It's a popular place to take pictures but someone is usually occupying the gazebo.

Finding this state park was a very cool discovery. It is located about a mile north of the Fort…read morePierce Inlet. You go down a road and there is a small parking lot at the end. The cost to use the preserve is $2 cash on the honor system. From the parking lot you cross over a bridge that takes you over the Indian River lagoon on to the preserve. In the summer you can see manatees swimming but on the day I visited the waterway was being enjoyed by paddle boarders. This 1,342 acre preserve has been managed by the State of Florida since 1963. It has more than 4 miles of dirt and grass trails along mangrove lined canals. I saw so many mangrove crabs scuttling around. Little blue herons fly overhead and I also saw great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, wood storks, and ibises. Osprey and roseate spoonbills have also been noted in the preserve, There are two trails to the the observation tower. A one mile direct trail or a two mile perimeter trail. I opted for the direct route to avoid an impending rain storm. The tower has stairs that take you 30 feet above the lagoon. From the top you can see the bird rookeries on surrounding islands. As you hike the island you will see culverts that are part of a system for flushing mosquitoes from their breeding areas. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in mud along the island and water is released through the big metal pipes to flood the areas normally used by the mosquitoes for breeding from April to October. Two other islands make up the preserve, Kings and Queens but they have to be explored from the water. Jack Island is the only one that offers hiking trails. Since Jack Island is located on the lagoon it gets fewer visitors than other state parks on the beach. I had the whole preserve to myself. I saw so many birds, it really is a paradise for bird watchers and photographers. The hike is an easy one and I would have stayed longer if it wasn't for the lightning. The island is also popular with anglers who fish for mullet, snook, and sheepshead and runners. You can walk for miles and never encounter any one else. Jack Island is the perfect place to enjoy Florida the way Mother Nature intended it to be.

Good hiking spot, there's multiple length hikes to choose from. You can either take a direct one…read moremile (one way) walk to the observation tower or take the loop which is 2 miles either way. The tower provides a 360 lookout over the mangroves and the river. Saw herons, crabs, butterflies and large flying fish. Dogs are allowed on short leash. Path is sandy and currently muddy due to afternoon showers today. If you're coming from Ft Pierce Inlet SP or the Avalon State Park this is a 10 minute drive from either one and is worth a stop. We created a state parks map and this was not on it. We saw a state park sign (pictured) and whipped a U-ie to check it out. Glad we did. It is a $2 honor system admission fee payable at entrance. Entrance is where a residential street dead ends and you'll see a McMansion on your left. Park anywhere, pay the fee and walk toward the bridge. No amenities. No restrooms or water fountains. If you're an outdoor person consider getting the Florida state park pass. It's $120 per family and lasts 12 calendar months.

This is a fantastic park located across from the beach on the Indian River Lagoon side. Jaycee Park…read morehas so many amenities. These include five large pavilions, six small pavilions, grills, a basketball court, tennis courts, volleyball court, and restroom. There is a also a beach for swimming in the Indian River. In 1954 Jaycee Park was the spring training home of the Pittsburg Pirates. They left after just one year for Fort Myers who promised them a renovated facility and guaranteed ticket sales. You can still see a nod to the Pirates in the park. There is a pirate flag in the elaborately themed playground. This park was very busy with families when I visited. There were many more people on the lagoon side than the beach. The lagoon is gentler and safer than the ocean for little ones and the playground has so much fun play equipment. Even big kids were enjoying it. This park is ideal for swimming, play, cookouts, and watching the sun set.

Saw a beautiful sunset at this park. Was able to see the whole sunset. Get there early to get a…read morespot!